CRAZY NEWS

Maya with Doll is a portrait of Picasso's daughter

Picasso paintings stolen
At least two Picasso paintings with a combined value of 50 million euros have been stolen from his granddaughter's home in Paris. A portrait of the Spanish painter's daughter, Maya with Doll, and one of his second wife Jacqueline Roque were taken on Monday night, police said.
There was no evidence of a break-in at the home of Diana Widmaier-Picasso, in Paris's chic seventh arrondissement.

The works of the iconic painter are among the world's most valuable - and frequently targeted by thieves.

In the largest theft of Picasso works, thieves stole 118 pieces from a museum in the southern French city of Avignon in 1976.

His 1905 masterpiece Boy with a Pipe is still the most expensive painting sold at auction. It went for $104.200.000 in 2004. Picasso died in France in 1973, aged 91.


How sick can you get???
Shocking news from Belgium, where a mother of five killed all her children (aged between 3 and 14) before trying to commit suicice. Yes trying... the crazy bitch survived! Pretty unbelievable... After killing her children she even called the emergency phone number herself.

In the township of Nijvel the five kids - four girls and one boy) were stabbed by their mother, who had sent a letter to her friend announcing her plans. Unfortunately the letter arrived after the tragedy had taken place.



Belated execution
In Texas 44-year old Donald Miller, who had been on death row in prison for the last 24 (!!) years, was executed yesterday. Donald Miller was sentenced to death at age 19 for his role in the murder of Michael Mozingo.


Enjoy,

HK

SHOES

Not that I'm particularly fond of shoes,... nor do I have a fetish for feet,... but these shoes are quite remarkable.
Prince Krabbejanus XXV was wearing them during last Carnaval.

His wife - press officer - was wearing matching shiny boots.
Some couple! Great representation for the Carnaval of our city!

Enjoy,

HK

STAFF MEETING

We had a meeting with the teaching staff at school today.
Plans for next year are that different departments will be clustered and are going to work together more than we do today.
Should be fun...
The meeting was boring as hell however!
Too much paperwork, the next change that will probably be withdrawn or altered within a few years.... Just like some changes we've seen come by over the last few years: Basisvorming, Tweede Fase, Studiehuis...
Some not quite as successful as others...

We had a couple of good laughs however in the sectional meeting though with the language departments!

Enjoy,

HK

BACK TO WORK

It's time again... Gotta be back at work tomorrow, after a nice week off from school.

I'm sure the kids are looking forward to being back at school just like I am... NOT !!!

Oh well,.. it's only for a week for next week I'm taking that trip to Italy for work I wrote about earlier. Can't believe what a year this is... so many trips!

Had a great brass rehearsal yesterday. Only 3 horns missing, so we were 44 altogether. The musical book is coming along nicely. We cleaned the first half of the closer and played through the ballad as well. Sounded pretty good! There's a videoclip here.

Will be another great season. Can't wait to take all this outside onto the field.

Last night, after making a quick stop in one of the bars downtown, we went to this 70s/80s party at Amigo's. Band was OK, nothing special, but the atmosphere there was great. And so many people I know and hadn't seen in a long time. Should do this a lot more often! Haven't been going out like this for ages!

Will spend the rest of the day taking it easy. Might go to town this afternoon. Shops are open...

Enjoy,

HK

70'S-80'S-90'S PARTY

Going to a party with a bunch of friends tonight.

It's been a long time since I last went to this place!

Used to go there every once in a while when it was still called Scanners, but with this format I think I only went there once.

There's a band originally from England tonight: Fragment.

Should be fun!

Enjoy,

HK

CUTEST KID EVER !

My little one and a half year old niece, Ruby, is the cutest kid ever!! And a wise one too at her young age.

She experienced her first SNOW two weeks ago and had a blast!!!!

Too bad the snow only lasted for just one day.
Would have been great to see this little one on skates as well last winter!
Who knows... she might be skiing next winter...

I can't really remember the first time I saw snow, but this must be a highly unusual experience to every little child!

I'm not too fond of snow myself nowadays, especially not with snowballs flying all over the place in the schoolyard when coming to work in the morning!!!

Enjoy,

HK

RELAXING

That would be nice..... but no.... not today!

Do I love my job??? You bet!!!
Especially this week I feel lucky being a teacher.
This year the spring-holiday is exactly this week, so right after carnaval!

Last two years I had to travel back and forthe between Brabant and home, for I had to teach on Monday and Tuesday. Luckily a colleague of mine lived in the town we were staying overnight and gave me a ride in the (EARLY!!!!) morning.

Didn't do much yesterday. Caught up on my sleep most of the day.

Then I went to the traditional "Herring Party". Don't eat fish at all though, so only enjoyed a few drinks at the bar. Then early evening on to the next Ash Wednesday party at Scheffers Huyskamer. Some good buffet-style food there!!

Today is my brother's birthday!


Enjoy,

HK

GREAT CARNAVAL

De Rammen in Eindhoven

This is always a weekend (a rather long one,.. with 5 days on the road) I am looking forward to the entire year. A period one can forget everything happening around you, leaving life for what it is for a few days, no sorrows, no work-related trouble,... pure fun!

With the band we're always pretty busy these days. We're working through a total of nearly 30 performances in 5 days.... in 12 different towns and villages. The parties in the little villages are usually really special!

Unbelievable how crowded jam-packed some of the bars can get there. We played at some plced which were filled to the maximum. Especially the 7 Lantaarns in Drunen is always a pleasure to be at. Not just because the party there is organised by the Blaospepkes, but they have us finish the afternoon programme in front of a bar full of extactic people (ok,.. who already had a few beers...). The PSV party didn't quite live up to our expectations. The location had moved from the impressive stadium to a large bar complex. We were lucky to perform on the main stage, for most of the bands played all the way at the other end of the room.

Eindhoven on Sunday afternoon was a blast. Played in 5 bars. Not too crowded in most places, but a great atmosphere!! Even got to play together with our (female) friend from LOSBANDIG, a brazilian-style drum ensemble, with who we performed a few times in previous years. The joint ensemble performance in the street was a great hit that afternoon. We drew a large crowd with this unscheduled gig.

Carnaval is all over now. Our band's founders, Jaap - the sousaphone player - had his last carnaval with the band. After 30 years with the band he's closing the book. We're all very sorry about this decision, but we couldn't convince him to stay longer. Not that he's leaving us completely,... but as a musician. Obviously he will always be a RAM !

Enjoy,

HK

CARNAVAL: OUT OF THE "OFFICE"

For some reason this post (which I wrote Saturday morning) was never published... probably saved it as draft instead of putting it on the site right away... Sorry!

As you know this weekend is Carnaval out here,... so HK will be "out of the office"until Wednesday. Apologies,... but no new posts until Wednesday night...

Enjoy,

HK

UP YOURS ON VALENTINE'S DAY

Sometimes I wonder if life in the Animal Kingdom is similar to ours...

What do you think... did monkeys celebrate Valentine's day yesterday?

I bet you this one had a message for his partner alright....

Enjoy,

HK

VALENTINE'S DAY

Broken Heart by Ulybka 2005

I used to just LOVE Valentine's Day.

I very well remember the time this day wasn't really celebrated here in the Netherlands yet.

I had already visited the USA - where V-Day is big business - several times. So I used to buy my cards and stuff in the States during the summer and had them sit in a cardboard box until February of the next year.

For years and years I had surprised my beloved one with cards and little gifts,... until she fucked up my life. (With a capital "F" that is....)

So for the last few years Valentine's Day to me is just an ordinary day in mid-February....

Enjoy,

HK

REVUE

The local carnaval Foundation "De Merwekrabbers" host their annual revue-nights at all the older people's homes in ouwr home town the two weeks prior to Carnaval Weekend.

Last week Thursday I accidentally ended up there and witnessed part of the second half after the break.

Tonight they performed their routine at the Polderwiel, which is only a few blocks from my place. So I decided to go and watch the whole thing, for I can't make it to their Grand Finale at the Kunstmin Theatre this Friday, since I'm co-organizing the "Bands Pub Crawl" that same evening.

Some neat stuff, but also some dreadfully boring way too long acts.

Really enjoyed the kids in the programme dancing to the "Pipi Longstocking" song!

Some of the songs were ok, ok.... others were absoluty torturing the ears!

Oh well,.. we should all realize this is a group of amateurs simply doing their best... And they're having a great time together,... so who are we to complain or criticize.

Enjoy,

HK

GREAT WALL - BEIJING

Dreamt about walking on the Great Wall at Badaling near Beijing (China) last night.

Don't know why,... but it sure brouht some memories back of the trip to China I made in 2004.

I even told the kids in class a lot about Beijing and China and this Great Wall in class today.

I had won this trip through the internet. Normally I don't believe in this kind of offers of travel agents promising to send you anywhere, but that time I just thought I'd give it a shot and send in an email to apply for the prize. Had to find other people to vote for me as well,... And guess what....

Yep,.. I won the trip. NINE days to Beijing for FREE!!!

How 'bout that??? Chances are like almost ZERO I always thought. Well,... apparently I was very close to this almost zero....

Only paid for some excursions!

Had an absolutely fabulous time out there!

Incredible country.

Would love to take another trip (or win one,... haha!)

Enjoy,

HK

TRUMPET OR BARITONE

Was schocked last night when we played at a gig in Udenhout.

One of the better (Brabant) trumpet players I know in a band there recently announced he's going to switch instruments.

The idea itself might not seem too unusual,.. but he's also switching bands after next weekend!!!

I was totally amazed at the idea.
Especially since the band he plays in now only has TWO trumpet players at the moment, so will be left with just one!!

The band he's joining is also great fun, but he's leaving something behind alright!

Enjoy,

HK

ENSEMBLE

Had a great rehearsal with Jubal drum & bugle corps today!

Today was the first brass & drums ensemble rehearsal of the 2007 season.

We worked on putting together the opener for the show: Gino Vannelli's "Where Am I Going".

After a brief sectional rehearsal horns and drums worked together for two hours.

Quite a few people came and witness this rehearsal. Lots of former members too!

It's an incredible long and intense opener. With four minutes we're well over one third of the entire show.

Will be a very exciting programme, entitled "LOST".

All brass music has been arranged. The hornline has already learnt Parts I, III and IV, so only part II to go. We're right on schedule.

Early March we'll take the rehearsals outside and start learning drill...

"Only" 10 weeks to go before the first gig...

Plenty of time (NOT!)

Enjoy,

HK

ONE MORE WEEK

It's weekend... and about time.

Kids were annoying these last few days.

And very lazy! (which is nthing new by the way).

This week was their deadline for handing in their final assignments for this year's reading file.

The serious kids had everything ready,... but well over a third of the final year's students till haven't got their act together.

They risk being excluded from their final exams...

Perhaps that will wake them up. I'm sure the parents will not be amused when they recieve the letter we're sending home.

One more week to go before the Spring Break (no,.. not the wild stuff going on in Florida),.. but simply just the week off from school.

I'm lucky this year, for the week is right around Carnaval!

Enjoy,

HK

PUB OWNERS ENTHUSED

Programme for the "Pub Crawl" (see below) at the First Dordtse Kroegentocht is definite. Ten bands will join each other on Friday February 16 and play some of their repertoire in five different bars in town.

This week Jos and I met with the pub owners to discuss final details and take a photo for the press. This Friday the regional paper will feature a double full-colour page, promoting the event.

Performance schedule will appear on www.derammen.nl tomorrow night.

Enjoy,

HK

LECTURE ?? HELL NO !

Giovanni Grevembroch: "Sembianza Trasformata" watercolor (18th century)

Had expected attending a very interesting lecture about Carnaval in Venice tonight, according to what I had read in the announcement in the newspaper.


UTTER CRAP !


Turned out to be a home-slide-show from someone's collection of 9 visits to Venice. And yes... it really was a SLIDE show. No laptop, beamer, 21st century technique,.. but a simple slide projector and a silver screen.

OK,... being a photography fanatic myself, I did enjoy quite a few of the 200 images that passed by on the screen, but if this was supposed to be a lecture... NOT!


Hardly any historical background information (apart from the fact that Napoleon banned the masks), nothing on the Commedia dell'Arte and its different types of traditional masks (Arlecchino, Il Capitano, Zanni and Pulcinella to name a few) , the production of the mask, ... nothing about the traditional baùta or the tabarro,... nothing about 1268 and the day before Lent as a day of celebration,... nothing about the annual theme (this year dedicated to Carlo Goldini),...

FIRST CLASS DISAPPOINTMENT!


Nevertheless... The costumes in the shots were fabulous. Great inspiration for future outfits of our band!


Enjoy,


HK

SAD DAY

It was a very sad day today!

The 19-year-old son of one of my colleagues at work died last week and the funeral was today.

Pim lived in a home for disabled people, just like my brother.

It had been a tough choice for his parents to finally make the choice and place him in this house less than a year ago.

Pim had Leukemia when he was very young, and was diagnosed with Epilepsy at a later age.

While taking a bath last week, he drowned, while one of the guarding personnel who was giving him a bath walked out of the bathroom for only little time. Too much time!

Pim got into a coma, and unfortunately didn't live to tell.

These institutions should have a much larger capacity of personnel!

Same goes for the place my brother lives.

It's simply impossible to look after 6 to 10 people all by yourself!

HK

LE PASSEPORT PERDU

En cas de perte du passeport
La déclaration de perte est à effectuer à la mairie du domicile.
Cette déclaration est jointe au formulaire de demande de passeport.


Some people stay absolutely calm and relaxed when their passport is missing while abroad (in this case in the USA)

Some people on the other hand totally freak out and get incredibly nervous (even when it’s not even their OWN passport, right Bert?).

Others try to get everybody in the travelling group to set up a massive search on the coaches and among all the luggage and junk brought on tour.

And then there’s people who – a little agitated though - start making phone calls, contact the right people, rearrange flights, book an extra hotel night, drive back and forth to the Dutch Embassy in Chicago… You know,.. friends you need in this situation, like Fred & myself…

I’m just thinking this “lost passport” will show up one day when the girl finally opens up a side pocket in her suitcase or toiletry bag,… she might have even used it as a bookmark in a book she brought on tour, but never finished.

We’ll see… In the meantime this is her third passport in two years. Not bad!

Enjoy,

HK

LAZY NIGHT

Decided to listen to what the body says for a change,... so stayed home tonight.

Went for a couple of drinks with some friends last night after rehearsal.

Unfortunately missed another group by only a few minutes. Had hoped to see a few I haven't seen for a long time!

Helped our brass caption head with a Power Point presentation for his final year at the Rotterdam Conservatory this morning and booked the last café for the "pub crawl' of February 16. We have 10 bands now!

Put a promotional poster for the event together tonight and will hit the sack pretty soon.

Enjoy,

HK

FRONT PAGE

Our band made the front page of a Gouda newspaper for the third year in a row. Remember the festival in Reeuwijk I wrote about earlier this week? Well,... the local photographer seems to like us. She must have taken plenty of shots of our performance.

And once again the editor picked one for the paper!

Enjoy,

HK

WEEKEND OFF

Finally... nothing scheduled this entire weekend. It's been a long time! Always busy with stuff, but now got the whole weekend to myself. Think I will sleep in on Sunday.

Only got rehearsal tonight and then will most likely end up in town for a couple of drinks.

Went to Javier Güzman at the theater last night. Great performance. Have seen better stuff from him, but had a good time. Couple of good jokes!

Enjoy,

HK